I'm old enough to remember when a then unknown Rishi Sunak bullshitted about Labour's manifesto costings in 2019 - and was mocked for it.

Also Sunak (in 2019):

At risk of hyperbole, it's the sort of story that ends up alongside a picture of the Queen on the front page of the Telegraph with the news that Downing St. partied during Prince Philip's funeral. Essentially one that offends the 'national' instinct of a certain demographic.

All gone! Pfft in a cloud of smoke!

...the hell?

👀

Currently wondering if it's worth doing this for all of the Reform candidates - and especially those standing in what I guess might be considered 'Friendly' seats, ie. those belonging to Conservative MPs who would be open to the possibility of collaborating with Farage. 🤨

I suspect that for many Reform voters, the question of whether any of their policies 'add up' doesn't actually matter - and this is the problem. To quote Reagan, ironically: "facts are stupid things." thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar…

Ah, Kettering - an interesting constituency. Firstly, because it's mine. Second, because I think it'll likely be one of the measures of how 'badly' it could go for the Conservatives on election night if it shifts from Con-Lab.

Sunak: "...couldnt possibly take action while investigation was ongoing." Also Sunak: *takes [belated] action*

Of all the whacky Reform candidates, Plymouth's Peter Gold is arguably one of the more curious. His first promotional video on YouTube really goes for the Star Trek theme, too [youtube.com/watch?v=D-a9Ab…] and finds gold beamed down from space to "boldly go" to Plymouth.

Still think, of all the ridiculous memes and comms emerging out of CCHQ, this is one of the worst. All the issues they note [immigration, tax, debt...] - they're basically guiding voters across a field and pointing out where they've laid the mines.

😂

👀

Considering the amount of working parents who try to find this work/life balance on a daily basis - not just Fridays - I'm not entirely sure how much of a 'gotcha' line this is.

A particularly big problem and one of the first that'll greet Labour [alongside the issues over Tata Steel] if/when they enter government.

Still a masterpiece.

I'm assuming Sunak has his voter ID tucked neatly away in his pocket somewhere... Or that'd be really embarrassing, wouldn't it?

Finding some of the analysis of these results to be quite shocking, actually. I'm not a Green voter, but when you have as many seats as Reform, surely you warrant as much importance?

This is excellent news for Kettering.